Work on Lyman Hall athletic complex pushed back

Work on Lyman Hall athletic complex pushed back

May 13, 2014 11:06AM
By Andrew Ragali
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD—The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Monday to table action on a site plan outlining improvements at the Lyman Hall High School athletic complex. With the vote, the site plan won’t be considered by the commission until mid-June.

Due to the delay, construction of a turf field and expanded track, expected to begin at the end of the school year, will be pushed back until spring 2015, Luke McCoy, a representative of the BSC Group, the engineering firm handling the project, told the commission.

The delay will postpone the bidding and preparation process until July; therefore the project wouldn’t be able to start during summer break.

“It’s a very small window when we deal with high school athletic fields,” McCoy said.

Commission members were hesitant to table the plan after McCoy explained it would mean postponing the work until next spring, but said there were too many problems with the plan. Issues included emergency lighting and the hookup of a new restroom and concession stand to utilities.

The town is looking to renovate the athletic complex to mirror the newer complex at Sheehan High School.

McCoy said the plan is to install a turf field and widen the track from six to eight lanes.

Track and field event equipment would be installed behind both end zones of the football field to expedite track meets, McCoy said.

Improvements would bring the soccer field into conformity with high school regulations. A building would be added to house athletic and maintenance equipment. Sidewalks and fences around the field would be replaced.

New lights would also be installed, McCoy said, but there’s no way to provide emergency lighting without a generator or battery cells.

A building with team rooms, restrooms and a concession stand would also be built, McCoy said.

Included in the building would be a workout facility. The entire project will take about six months and will be done in stages based on cost, he said.

The cost will be determined as the project moves forward. The track and field improvements will take about three months, and are intended to be done first, McCoy said, adding that the town is working on how it will fund the project.